Comrade Smilga! Krassin is insisting that you postpone your departure until Wednesday43. There is, he says, a threatening fuel situation. On Tuesday we shall conduct together a series of the most important, urgent practical decisions.

I ask you to reply to me immediately, with this same messenger, with your arguments against. It would be necessary for you to remain until Tuesday.

Lenin

15/VII. 11 1/2 a.m.

Written 15 July 1921

Published for the first time from the manuscript